“What more could I do, Tom?” said the lad anxiously, for the man’s words made him think that he had been neglecting some precaution. “A good lookout is being kept, isn’t it?”
“Seaward, sir,” replied the man, “but I was thinking as the lads round the back arn’t in sight of one another.”
“Oh!” cried Murray. “And you think that the enemy might come stealing down one of the paths through the forest?”
“Didn’t see no paths, sir,” said the man, looking at him wonderingly.
“Neither did I, Tom.”
“O’ course not, sir,” said the man, giving himself a punch in the ribs with his doubled fist. “Here, I don’t know what I could be thinking of.”
“Nor do I, Tom. Mine’s rather a curious duty, namely, to take care that this gentleman does not leave this place, and to treat him as it seems to me so that while he is a prisoner he shall not in his state of health fancy that he is one.”
“Skipper wants to keep friends with him so as he’ll show us where all the niggers are, sir, and give us a chance to make a good haul of prize money?”
“Perhaps so, Tom.”
“Well, sir, captain knows best, and the first luff knows what’s second best. I dunno about Mr Munday, sir, but I wish some un else had my watch, that I do, sir. Our job burning out the black chief’s place over yonder was a bit too hot a job, but I’d rather have orders to do the same sort o’ thing again than be doing this here. It’s too sleepy for me. Can’t you set me ’sploring, sir, or something of that kind? For I’m no good at all onless I’m on active sarvice.”